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Producers Guild of India elects Shibasish Sarkar as president
Mumbai: Shibasish Sarkar was unanimously elected as president of the Producers Guild of India at the first meeting of its newly constituted Guild Council of Management, which was held immediately after the 68th annual general meeting on 21 September.
Shibasish is currently the chairman and CEO of International Media Acquisition. His most recent position was as group CEO of Reliance Entertainment, which is part of the Reliance ADA group.
President-elect Shibasish Sarkar said, “In his six years as guild president, Siddharth has been a tireless, passionate, and committed champion for our industry at a time of unprecedented challenges. I look forward to building on what he has accomplished and working alongside my colleagues to help address the challenges and build on the opportunities we have before us as an industry.”
Shibasish Sarkar is a media and entertainment industry professional with over 29 years of corporate experience in multiple verticals such as films, television, animation, gaming content, and digital & new media platform operations.
Welcoming the president-elect, the incumbent president Siddharth Roy Kapur said, “It has been a pleasure and an honour to serve the production fraternity and I am delighted to pass the baton on to the able hands of Shibasish. I am sure he will do a stellar job and add further lustre to the Guild’s reputation for spearheading the industry’s interests.”
Shibasish was a member of the senior leadership team and served as a director and member of the board of several group companies.
He has held senior positions at Viacom 18, UTV Disney, and Godrej Sara Lee prior to joining Reliance, with a focus on establishing a new business, scaling up operations, and driving sustainable growth through key alliances, managing stakeholders, talent partners, and cross-functional teams.
His academic credentials include being a certified chartered accountant, a cost accountant, a company secretary, and an MBA with a marketing specialisation.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
